Union Labor News Archives, 2000-2011

Union Labor News: December 2011

• State Workers Taste Life without a Union Contract
  In the wake of the passage of the “concealed carry” law in Wisconsin, local government agencies, the University and private business across the state are posting signs prohibiting guns on the premises. Yet earlier this month state Department of Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch issued an order that state agencies would not be required to post signs prohibiting guns. Thi... [More]
• Ask Al: New Research Reveals Labor Temple Bar Best Place to Get a Working Class Buzz
  Q. So, Al, you’re supposed to be so smart. Where’s the best place for a working stiff to get a drink in Madison? A. Not wanting to burden you with Al’s opinion, we approached the question scientifically. First, we assembled an expert panel. Then we developed objective criteria and conducted extensive on-site reviews of four randomly selected drinking establishments... [More]
• Area Unions Have Had Four Labor Temples Since 1893
  Formal dedication of the present Labor Temple took place on September 1, 1958 (Labor Day). This marked a significant milestone in the history of the Madison labor movement. Historically the present Temple is the fourth meeting place and headquarters for Madison unions. The original idea for a home for local unions was formed back in the 1890’s when the “Madison Federated Trad... [More]
• UW Student Labor Action Coalition Changes the Sweatshops of the World
  By Sue Vilbrandt UW-Madison’s Student Labor Action Coalition (SLAC) has always been about more than simple protests – SLAC wanted nothing less than to change the world – and part of that dream is now being realized. After more than a decade of struggle, an innovative program masterminded by SLAC members back in 2006 is beginning to change the face of the global apparel... [More]
• Let’s Not Celebrate Ohio Vote Too Soon
  By Jim Cavanaugh, South Central Federation of Labor President All across the country on November 8 voters resoundingly rejected the radical policies pursued by the right wing politicians elected just a year earlier. The pundits reacted by declaring a pendulum swing away from the rabid conservatism ushered in by the elections last year. I’m not so sure, and I’ll tell yo... [More]
• UW ‘Efficiency’ Project Promises Budget Cuts And Maybe Cuts in Jobs & Accountability Too
  By Barbara Smith Do words like “efficiency, flexibility and cost savings” sound positive to you? Those are the terms UW-Madison management is using when they talk about their project on “Administrative Excellence.” They say the project could save $8.5 million initially by consolidating computer servers and making smarter purchases on things like ink pens. T... [More]
• Congressional ‘Super Committee’ Poised To Make Big Indirect Cut to Social Security
  Last month Erskine Bowles, co-chair of the president’s deficit commission, recommended that the Congressional Super Committee raise Medicare’s earliest age of eligibility to 67. If Congress were to follow Bowles’ advice, out-of-pocket health care costs could consume as much as 45 percent of the Social Security checks of 65 and 66 year olds, according to a new analysis w... [More]
• New Way of Calculating Poverty Shows More Poor Older Americans
  When the U.S. Census Bureau updated its model for calculating the nation’s poverty rate, it arrived at an unexpected result: nearly twice as many older Americans qualify as poor than had been previously thought. According to the new numbers, 16 percent of those 65 and older are poor. This is up from 9 percent according to the old formula. The problem was that the old formula failed... [More]
• New Progressive Talk Show Comes to Madison Area
  The People’s Mic with Doug Cunningham joined the line-up of WXXM-FM – Madison’s Progressive Talk – The Mic 92.1 on November 14. The show can be heard locally and streaming weekdays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. “We are very excited about adding Doug and the People’s Mic to our daily line up,” said WXXM Operations Manager Tim Scott. “Doug’s pa... [More]
• Largest Corporations in Wisconsin Pay No Taxes While Exec Pay and Profits Soar, Jobs Disappear
  You pay more state taxes than Kimberly-Clark, Brunswick, Rockwell Automation and Snap-on. The Institute for Wisconsin’s Future issued yet another report in October detailing how some of the largest manufacturers in the state avoid paying their fair share in taxes. In addition, the new report shows that these same corporations are experiencing soaring profits and executive pay at th... [More]